Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Basra versus $864 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Basra versus $1,359 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,969 in Basra versus $1,854 in Zakho.

Living in Basra costs roughly 15% less than in Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Zakho 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 IQD 5,037

$7.58 IQD 9,926

-49.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 IQD 32.6K

$22.64 IQD 29.7K

9.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,205

$8.88 IQD 11.6K

-20.83%

Cappuccino

$2.06 IQD 2,696

$3.19 IQD 4,184

-35.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 574

$0.48 IQD 628

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 413

$0.22 IQD 288

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.80 IQD 4,982

$2.03 IQD 2,656

87.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 IQD 3,551

$2.04 IQD 2,673

32.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 IQD 1,558

$1.33 IQD 1,739

-10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 920

$0.79 IQD 1,039

-11.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,927

$1.86 IQD 2,434

-20.97%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,401

$1.90 IQD 2,489

-3.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

$7.27 IQD 9,524

9.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 IQD 9,238

$4.81 IQD 6,294

46.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

$14.09 IQD 18.5K

-5.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,325

$1.15 IQD 1,510

-12.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 IQD 1,837

$1.19 IQD 1,558

17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,363

$1.18 IQD 1,541

-11.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 774

$0.81 IQD 1,062

-27.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$0.66 IQD 864

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 746

$0.71 IQD 933

-19.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$0.72 IQD 947

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 IQD 500

$0.56 IQD 727

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 IQD 2,468

$2.62 IQD 3,430

-28.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

5.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 IQD 3,916

$1.45 IQD 1,898

106.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,934

$1.94 IQD 2,542

94.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.40 IQD 521

-7.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-26.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,051

$2.26 IQD 2,965

3.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 IQD 3,017

$2.23 IQD 2,921

3.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 IQD 8,942

$7.00 IQD 9,165

-2.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.70 IQD 912

-15.71%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

-29.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

$20.6K IQD 27.0M

9.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

$100 IQD 131.0K

-42.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

46.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$29.69 IQD 38.9K

30.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.10 IQD 47.3K

$37.17 IQD 48.7K

-2.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

$17.01 IQD 22.3K

-9.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$11.66 IQD 15.3K

-33.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$95.9 IQD 125.6K

$272 IQD 355.7K

-64.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,319 IQD 4.3M

16.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.37 IQD 55.5K

$32.98 IQD 43.2K

28.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

$49.77 IQD 65.2K

-59.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 IQD 93.7K

$82.0 IQD 107.4K

-12.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

-46.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 IQD 580.2K

$246 IQD 321.7K

80.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 IQD 177.8K

$180 IQD 236.0K

-24.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 IQD 1.2M

$580 IQD 759.4K

60.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 IQD 875.3K

$343 IQD 448.6K

95.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 IQD 1.0M

$659 IQD 863.5K

17.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Basra: June 7, 2026

Last update for Zakho: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Basra and $246 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $23.00 in Zakho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $195 per month, with Zakho cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Basra vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Zakho differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($732 vs $864 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Basra pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $443 in Basra versus $246 in Zakho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Zakho pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Basra – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $23.00 in Zakho. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Basra gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Basra and Zakho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.